PEOPLE
WeylChem unifies leadership
The WeylChem Group of Companies is integrating its custom manufacturing services under one leadership. Dr Benjamin Bechem, already leading WeylChem Organica and European custom manufacturing sales, now also heads Allessa GmbH following a successful restructuring.
Change at Elementis
Luc van Ravenstein became CEO of Elementis on 29 April. He replaced Paul Waterman, who stepped down after nine years in the role, having come under pressure from activist investors. Van Ravenstein joined the firm 13 years ago and for the past seven has headed the Performance Specialties business, its largest business segment.
Ingevity announces CEO
Ingevity has appointed David H. Li as president and CEO. Li has more than 25 years of experience in the speciality materials industry, most recently as CEO and president of CMC Materials until its sale to Entegris in 2022. Interim president and CEO Luis Fernandez- Moreno will remain on the board.
New CEO at Kurita America
Kurita America, the US subsidiary of a Japanese water treatment giant, has named Todd Emslander as its new CEO, after the retirement of Greg Becker, who guided the company through major change and growth. Emslander has over 25 years of industry expertise, 17 within Kurita. For the past five years, he has been EVP of sales.
Two advance at Merck
Jean-Charles Wirth and Danny Bar-Zohar will become the CEOs of the Merck KGaA’ s Life Science and Healthcare divisions respectively on 1 June. Wirth, hitherto head of the Science & Lab Solutions business, replaces Matthias Heinzel, who did not renew his contract, while Bar Zohar’ s predecessor, Peter Guenter, will retire.
John to Krahn Chemie
Martin John will join Hamburg-based distributor Krahn Chemie as CEO on 1 June. He brings over 30 years of international experience from Höchst, Süd- Chemie, and Clariant, where he led global business units, most recently in additives for coatings and adhesives. Former CEO Dr Rolf Kuropka will remain with the group in an advisory role.
IMCD CEO leaves
Shortly before the annual shareholder meeting, IMCD and Valerie Diele-Braun agreed that she would step down as CEO and member of the management board with immediate effect, for personal reasons. Her replacement is Marcus Jordan, who has been with the company for 26 years and served as president of Americas, group development director various strategic roles in the UK and COO since 2022.
Two advance at Aragen
Indian CRDMO Aragen has appointed Dr Manjunath Ramarao as its chief scientific and EVP of integrated drug discovery and Jayadeva Sajankila( pictured) as head of chemical development solutions. They will be based in the US and India respectively. Ramarao previously held similar roles at tomic AI and Ribometrix and other leadership positions at Bristol Myers Squibb and Wyeth.
86 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981